Scan barcode
A review by jcreads85
Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Books 2 & 3 of the Singing Hills chronicles have been great reads and I’m glad I continued the series. They do have a different feel - both more adventurous, tense, and darker - but not in a way that has taken away from the enjoyment, or characteristics that I loved from the first book.
Book 1 had us hearing the tales of an exiled empress in her former lodgings - very few characters in the present setting but quite a cast of characters within the story. Book 2 was similar in that it relied heavily on a retelling, but this time the present situation was out in the wild where the main characters were being held hostage by tigers. And now the 3rd book, carries on the tradition of storytelling, but it does so on the road. The cast in the present tense are multiple, and diverse, growing that element. And also different were the stories told - not just about the life of one or two characters, but adventures of quite a few.
In the end, I may have rated it equal, but was a little frustrated that they’ve implied who the traveling companions may be, at least the older couple, but it’s hard to be sure. And they don’t say outright. Argh!
I was delighted to hear, once again, mention of one of the characters from the stories told in book one; a diviner with eyes on her eyelids who reads scalps (I forgot her name) was mentioned briefly in the stories told by the cast in the third book just as she popped up also in book 2. I hope we get more of her story in future books.
Book 1 had us hearing the tales of an exiled empress in her former lodgings - very few characters in the present setting but quite a cast of characters within the story. Book 2 was similar in that it relied heavily on a retelling, but this time the present situation was out in the wild where the main characters were being held hostage by tigers. And now the 3rd book, carries on the tradition of storytelling, but it does so on the road. The cast in the present tense are multiple, and diverse, growing that element. And also different were the stories told - not just about the life of one or two characters, but adventures of quite a few.
In the end, I may have rated it equal, but was a little frustrated that they’ve implied who the traveling companions may be, at least the older couple, but it’s hard to be sure. And they don’t say outright. Argh!
I was delighted to hear, once again, mention of one of the characters from the stories told in book one; a diviner with eyes on her eyelids who reads scalps (I forgot her name) was mentioned briefly in the stories told by the cast in the third book just as she popped up also in book 2. I hope we get more of her story in future books.